DHS awards $5.7M for 24/7 translation and interpretation services to LIONBRIDGE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS II INC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,668,795 ($5.7M)

Contractor: Lionbridge Global Solutions II Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2025-03-10

End Date: 2026-03-09

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 13

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO PROVIDE TRANSLATION, TRANSCRIPTION, AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES, THROUGH A LANGUAGE LINE THAT IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND 365 DAYS A YEAR 24/7/365.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20536

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $5.7 million to LIONBRIDGE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS II INC. for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO PROVIDE TRANSLATION, TRANSCRIPTION, AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES, THROUGH A LANGUAGE LINE THAT IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND 365 DAYS A YEAR 24/7/365. Key points: 1. Contract provides essential language services for immigration enforcement operations. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process. 3. Delivery order under a larger contract indicates potential for follow-on work. 4. Services are critical for ensuring clear communication and due process. 5. Contract duration of one year with potential for extensions. 6. Focus on continuous availability (24/7/365) highlights the critical nature of the services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $5.7 million for one year of 24/7 translation, transcription, and interpretation services appears reasonable given the critical and continuous nature of the requirement. Benchmarking against similar language service contracts for federal agencies would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The 'TIME AND MATERIALS' contract type, while offering flexibility, warrants scrutiny to ensure costs remain controlled and aligned with the estimated value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely solicited. With 13 bids received, the competition level suggests a healthy market for these services. This broad competition is generally favorable for price discovery and achieving competitive pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process for essential language services helps ensure that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by driving down costs through market forces.

Public Impact

Immigrants and non-English speakers interacting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will benefit from accurate communication. Translation, transcription, and interpretation services will be delivered to support ICE's enforcement and processing activities. The services are critical for ensuring due process and understanding in legal and administrative proceedings. The contract supports a workforce of linguists and translators, potentially impacting the language services industry.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns with Time and Materials contract type if not closely monitored.
Reliance on a single awardee for critical 24/7 services could pose a risk if performance issues arise.
Ensuring consistent quality across a wide range of languages and services is a potential challenge.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Continuous availability (24/7/365) demonstrates a commitment to meeting urgent operational needs.
The contract supports a vital government function with significant public impact.

Sector Analysis

The federal market for translation and interpretation services is substantial, driven by the diverse linguistic needs of government agencies. This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically supporting public safety and immigration enforcement. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal awards for similar language support, which often range from thousands to millions of dollars annually depending on scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate if this contract included small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation and its impact on the small business ecosystem within the language services industry.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight of this contract would typically fall under the contracting officer and the relevant program managers within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Performance monitoring, quality assurance, and invoice review are standard accountability measures. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics may not always be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Language Services
Department of Defense (DoD) Language Support
Department of State (DoS) Translation Services
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Language Assistance

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M contract type.
Need for robust oversight to ensure efficient service delivery.
Reliance on contractor for critical 24/7 operational support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $5.7 million to LIONBRIDGE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS II INC.. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO PROVIDE TRANSLATION, TRANSCRIPTION, AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES, THROUGH A LANGUAGE LINE THAT IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND 365 DAYS A YEAR 24/7/365.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LIONBRIDGE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS II INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-03-10. End: 2026-03-09.

What is the historical spending pattern for translation and interpretation services by DHS or ICE?

Historical spending on translation and interpretation services by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been significant, reflecting the diverse linguistic needs of border security, immigration processing, and law enforcement. While specific figures for ICE's language services vary year to year based on operational demands and funding allocations, the overall trend indicates a consistent and substantial investment. For instance, in fiscal year 2022, DHS reported spending hundreds of millions across various components on language services, including translation, interpretation, and transcription. ICE, as a major operational component, accounts for a considerable portion of this spending due to its direct interaction with non-English speaking individuals. Analyzing past contract awards for similar services reveals a pattern of multi-million dollar awards, often through competitive bidding, to support 24/7 operations and critical case processing. This current $5.7 million award for a one-year period aligns with the scale of previous investments, suggesting a sustained need for these essential linguistic capabilities.

How does the per-unit cost of these services compare to market rates or similar federal contracts?

Determining the precise per-unit cost for translation, transcription, and interpretation services under this contract is challenging without access to the specific rates agreed upon in the Time and Materials (T&M) contract. T&M contracts typically bill based on labor hours and material costs, making direct per-unit comparisons difficult without knowing the volume of services consumed. However, the total award of $5.7 million for a one-year, 24/7 service suggests an average monthly expenditure of approximately $475,000. Market rates for professional language services can vary significantly based on language complexity, service type (interpretation vs. translation), urgency, and linguist qualifications. Federal agencies often negotiate rates that are competitive within the industry. To benchmark effectively, one would need to compare the negotiated hourly rates for different service types and languages against established federal procurement data (e.g., GSA schedules) or industry surveys. Given the competitive bidding process (13 bids), it is likely that the negotiated rates are within a reasonable range for the market, though a detailed analysis of the rate structure would be required for a definitive assessment of value for money.

What is the contractor's track record with federal agencies, particularly DHS?

LIONBRIDGE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS II INC. has a notable track record in providing language services to various entities, including federal agencies. While specific details of their past performance with DHS or ICE require a deeper dive into contract databases and performance reviews, their presence in the federal contracting space suggests experience in meeting government requirements. Companies like Lionbridge often secure contracts through competitive processes, indicating they can meet technical requirements and pricing expectations. Their ability to win awards for critical services like 24/7 language support implies a level of reliability and capability. However, a comprehensive assessment would involve reviewing past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), any past disputes or contract terminations, and the scope and value of their previous federal awards to gauge their overall reliability and suitability for this specific requirement.

What are the potential risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for these services?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like the one awarded to LIONBRIDGE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS II INC., carry inherent risks, primarily concerning cost control. In a T&M arrangement, the government pays the contractor for the actual labor hours expended and the cost of materials used, plus a fixed fee or fixed hourly rate. This structure can lead to cost overruns if the scope of work is not well-defined or if contractor performance is inefficient, as the government bears the risk of increased labor hours. For 24/7 translation and interpretation services, ensuring efficient utilization of linguists and preventing scope creep is crucial. Effective oversight by the government is paramount to monitor labor hours, validate the necessity of all work performed, and ensure that the contractor is not incentivized to prolong tasks unnecessarily. Without robust government oversight and clear task definitions, T&M contracts can become more expensive than fixed-price alternatives.

How critical are these language services to the mission of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)?

The translation, transcription, and interpretation services provided under this contract are critically important to the mission of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE's operations involve extensive interaction with individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds, including asylum seekers, detainees, and witnesses. Accurate and timely communication is essential for conducting interviews, processing legal documents, ensuring due process, facilitating credible fear screenings, and managing detention facilities. Without adequate language support, ICE's ability to enforce immigration laws, conduct investigations, and uphold legal standards would be severely hampered. The 24/7/365 availability requirement underscores the continuous and often urgent nature of these needs, highlighting their indispensable role in ICE's day-to-day operations and its broader mandate of national security and public safety.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Translation and Interpretation Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 13

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 890 WINTER ST. SUITE 225, WALTHAM, MA, 02451

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,227,759

Exercised Options: $5,668,795

Current Obligation: $5,668,795

Actual Outlays: $2,662,982

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA19D007V

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline